Stories about Human Rights from October, 2008
Russia: Mozhaisk Women's Colony
Grigory Pasko visits Mozhaisk women’s prison colony and writes at Robert Amsterdam's blog about “what a women’s colony in today’s Russia is like and what is a ‘house of the...
Russia: Letter in Support of Svetlana Bakhmina
Robert Amsterdam posts a translation of a letter in support of Svetlana Bakhmina that's circulating in the Russian blogosphere now.
Belarus, EU: Lukashenko – Persona Non Grata No More
Eternal Remont reports that the EU has temporarily suspended a travel ban on Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko.
USA: Homeland Guantanamo
A new interactive online game by human rights organization Breakthrough uses video to illustrate the injustices many documented and undocumented immigrants face in detention centers across the United States. In "Homeland Guantanamo", players assume the role of a journalist trying to get more information on real life detainee who has died in custody.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Concern about Crime
Bloggers are concerned as rape crimes continue to increase in St. Vincent. Abeni: “This is so disturbing because there is a tendency to believe that there is safety in numbers....
Cuba: War Reflections
“Today, we are informed about every loss suffered by the American army in Iraq but I remember the secrecy about the number of Cuban soldiers who fell during the Angolan...
Bangladesh: National ID card project for surveillance?
The Voter ID and the national ID card project in Bangladesh was completed recently by the caretaker (interim) government. The Bangla blogosphere has questioned the transparency of the project and...
Iran: A prisoners’ rights advocate was freed
Ghajarboys, an Iranian blog, writes that Emadeddin Baghi, a prominent prisoner's rights advocate in Iran, was freed.
Egypt: We are All Laila
We are all Laila, echo Egyptian female bloggers in one voice. Who is Laila and why do Egyptian girls and women associate themselves with her? Read on to learn how Egyptian bloggers are working to break the gender barrier and make their voices heard.
Cuba: Human Rights Activist Re-Arrested
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports that a Cuban human rights activist who was paroled from prison earlier this year because of poor health, now faces up to five years...
Egypt: Gaza Solidarity Activists Kidnapped, Abused and then Released
While celebrating the 6th of October victory and in alliance with the International Solidarity Movement to break Gaza Siege, activists from different Egyptian civil entities, syndicates, and political parties decided to head to Gaza in an attempt to break the siege. The attempt was cut short by the Egyptian Security, and around 36 activists were ‘kidnapped' and detained.
Iran:An Iranian Lesbian needs urgent help in Sweden
Iranian Queer Organization (IRAQO) asks people to help a young Iranian lesbian who escaped Iran to Sweden in January 2008 on base of her sexual orientation. According to this organization...
Azerbaijan: Bullying and Violence in the Army
Unzipped posts a video from YouTube allegedly showing new conscripts in the Azerbaijani army being beaten and kicked by other soldiers. The blog warns the Armenian army that videos of...
China: 40 Missing Children's Parents Petition Journey to Beijing
The news of 40 parents petitioning in Beijing for their missing children has been censored by the mainstream media and major internet news portals in China. Blogger Beifeng re-posts a first-person account from one of the petitioning parents in his blog, and urges readers to spread the news.
Russia: Remembering Anna Politkovskaya
Oct. 7 marks two years since the assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. No one has been jailed so far, but three men are expected to go to trial soon for their suspected involvement in the crime. Below is a selection of today's commemorative posts from the Russophone blogosphere.
The Blogging Revolution: from Iran to Cuba
Antony Loewenstein, a Sydney-based freelance journalist and blogger, has recently published his new book: The Blogging Revolution. This book talks about the impact of blogging on six countries: Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Cuba.
Iran: Two Leading HIV/Aids physicians remain in prison
Global Voices reported in August that Drs. Arash and Kamyar Alaei, two internationally renowned Iranian HIV/Aids specialists have been jailed in Tehran since June. Unfortunately, they are still in prison...
The Balkans, Russia: Veljko Kadijevic
Greater Surbiton writes about general Veljko Kadijevic's new Russian citizenship and the unlikely prospects of delivering justice to genocide victims.
Russia, Iran: Obama's Stance
“If elected president of the US, senator Barack Obama would not trade eastern European security for Russian help on Iran,” reports Transatlantic Politics.
Hungary: Views on Minorities and Immigrants
Central Europe Activ writes about a poll on Hungarians’ attitudes towards immigrants and ethnic minorities: “The least-prejudiced Hungarians live in Southern Hungary, or, interestingly, do not have a job.”
Moldova: Notes on Foreign and Domestic Issues
The 8th Circle and Central Europe Activ write about domestic and international issues that Moldova is dealing with.
